Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

The Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 (labelled Panasonic ZS70 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively,
in November 2017 and April 2017. The G9 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the TZ90 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (G9) and a 1/2.3-inch (TZ90) sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20.2 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and the
Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

The physical size and weight of the Panasonic G9 and the Panasonic TZ90 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TZ90 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the G9 is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Panasonic TZ90 is considerably smaller (44 percent) than the Panasonic G9. It is worth mentioning in this context that the G9 is splash and dust resistant,
while the TZ90 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the TZ90 has a lens built in,
whereas the G9 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the G9 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the G9 gets 400 shots out of its DMW-BLF19 battery,
while the TZ90 can take 380 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLG10 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The TZ90 was launched at a lower price than the G9, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic G9 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Panasonic TZ90
a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the TZ90 is 88 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 5.6. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Even though the G9 has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 20.2 megapixels.
This implies that the G9 has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels
(with a pixel pitch of 3.34μm versus 1.18μm for the TZ90), which gives it a potential advantage
in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the G9 is a somewhat more recent model (by 6 months) than the TZ90, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

Unlike the TZ90, the G9 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (80.6MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-6400.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Panasonic G9»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/60p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic G9

Panasonic TZ90«

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

19.1

10.6

106

36

Panasonic TZ90

Canon SX730«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX730

Fujifilm XF10«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/15p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm XF10

Fujifilm X-H1«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-H1

Nikon Z6«»

Full Frame

24.3

6048

4024

4K/30p

25.3

14.3

3299

95

Nikon Z6

Olympus E-M1 II«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

23.7

12.8

1312

80

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic TZ95«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic TZ95

Panasonic FT7«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic FT7

Panasonic GH5s«»

Four Thirds

9.9

3680

2700

4K/60p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic GH5s

Panasonic GX9«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic GX9

Panasonic GH5«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/60p

23.9

13.0

807

77

Panasonic GH5

Panasonic G85«»

Four Thirds

15.8

4592

3448

4K/30p

22.8

12.5

656

71

Panasonic G85

Panasonic GX8«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

23.5

12.6

806

75

Panasonic GX8

Panasonic GH4«»

Four Thirds

15.9

4608

3456

4K/30p

23.2

12.8

791

74

Panasonic GH4

Panasonic LX5«»

1/1.7

10.0

3648

2736

720/60p

19.6

10.8

132

41

Panasonic LX5

Sony A7 III«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

25.0

14.7

3730

96

Sony A7 III

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the G9 provides a higher frame rate than the TZ90. It can shoot video footage at 4K/60p, while the TZ90 is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison: Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the G9 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the TZ90 (3680k vs 1166k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic G9 and Panasonic TZ90 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Panasonic G9»

3680

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/8000s

20.0

n

Y

Panasonic G9

Panasonic TZ90«

1166

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ90

Canon SX730«»

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/3200s

5.9

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Fujifilm XF10«»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Fujifilm XF10

Fujifilm X-H1«»

3690

Y

3.0

1040

full-flex

Y

1/8000s

14.0

n

Y

Fujifilm X-H1

Nikon Z6«»

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Nikon Z6

Olympus E-M1 II«»

2360

n

3.0

1037

swivel

Y

1/8000s

18.0

n

Y

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic TZ95«»

2330

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ95

Panasonic FT7«»

1170

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/1300s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic FT7

Panasonic GH5s«»

3680

n

3.2

1620

swivel

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

n

Panasonic GH5s

Panasonic GX9«»

2760

n

3.0

1240

tilting

Y

1/4000s

9.0

Y

Y

Panasonic GX9

Panasonic GH5«»

3680

n

3.2

1620

swivel

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Panasonic GH5

Panasonic G85«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

9.0

Y

Y

Panasonic G85

Panasonic GX8«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/8000s

10.0

n

Y

Panasonic GX8

Panasonic GH4«»

2359

n

3.0

1036

swivel

Y

1/8000s

12.0

Y

n

Panasonic GH4

Panasonic LX5«»

-

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

1/4000s

2.5

Y

Y

Panasonic LX5

Sony A7 III«»

2359

n

3.0

922

tilting

Y

1/8000s

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7 III

One feature that is present on the G9, but is missing on the TZ90 is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly
appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Panasonic G9 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G9 and the TZ90 write their files to SDXC cards. The G9 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the TZ90
only has one slot. The G9 supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the TZ90 can use UHS-I cards.

Connectivity comparison: Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Panasonic G9»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic G9

Panasonic TZ90«

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic TZ90

Canon SX730«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Fujifilm XF10«»

-

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm XF10

Fujifilm X-H1«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

3.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-H1

Nikon Z6«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z6

Olympus E-M1 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.0

Y

-

-

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic TZ95«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic TZ95

Panasonic FT7«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic FT7

Panasonic GH5s«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic GH5s

Panasonic GX9«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic GX9

Panasonic GH5«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic GH5

Panasonic G85«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic G85

Panasonic GX8«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Panasonic GX8

Panasonic GH4«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Panasonic GH4

Panasonic LX5«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Panasonic LX5

Sony A7 III«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7 III

It is notable that the G9 has a hotshoe, while the TZ90 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily
attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Panasonic G9 (unlike the TZ90) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights
can be controlled by the camera.

The G9 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic.
In contrast, the TZ90 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the TZ90 was succeeded by the Panasonic TZ95. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Panasonic website.

Review summary: Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic G9 and the Panasonic TZ90? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DC-G9:

High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.

Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.

More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 6 months after the TZ90).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90:

Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the G9 necessitates an extra lens.

More compact: Is smaller (112x67mm vs 137x97mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the G9).

Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.

More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2017).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G9 is the clear winner of the match-up (25 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the G9 and the TZ90 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews: Panasonic G9 vs TZ90

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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